Sai
what is system hardware
i want be a hardware engineer #computer #computer-hardware #hardware-engineer
11 answers
Charles M Hurd
Charles M’s Answer
Sai,
System hardware is the hardware that is the computer system. This includes the processor, motherboard, disk drives, display drivers (video card or other), peripherals like keyboard, mouse, etc.
An engineer is someone that designs things and demonstrates that the design works and solves the problem before it is used on a large scale.
So if you want to be a systems hardware engineer, you will design pieces of the computer system. To start, this required a degree in electrical engineering. I agree with the other comment that suggests that you get to know these components by doing technical support. This will help quite a bit as you get your engineering degree as you will have practical knowledge. However, the four year degree is just the start.
The current state of hardware is much more specialized than it was before, so you will need advanced studies to get up to the point of designing state-f the art hardware.
Here's some global trends that you should consider before you commit 4 to 6 years to studying this field.
The first trend is that the cost of hardware is very low now and is getting cheaper. consider the Raspberry Pi, you can get a complete computer for less than USD 50. Unless you make and sell millions and millions of them, there is not much profit to be made.
The other trend is that companies are shifting from specialized hardware to generic hardware, not much difference between the designs of generic hardware.
The thought is, that more specialized the application, the more job opportunities there will be, so expand your viewpoint to consider more than just system hardware with an electrical engineering degree and other related fields of study.
Consider robotics, medical devices, human assist technology (wheelchairs, and other devices that assist handicapped persons to do things non-handicapped persons can do naturally, or to assist non-handicapped persons to do much more than they normally could). and even spacecraft, (getting the right amount of power to the different areas of the launch vehicle or the actual spacecraft is not a trivial function.)
Hope that helps you understand better to help you make a more-informed decision.
Thank you sir
Sai
Santosh Mangalapalli
Santosh’s Answer
Computer or System hardware is about the computer components servicing, sales includes. It would be a good idea to start the career to understand the components, however need to acquire different skills like networking to grow in career. There are many Computer designing companies where you can join as technical support or hardware support and lead your career or even setup your own business.
Computer components like Processor, Hard drive, RAM, Mother board, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse which you see in any computer. The other career option in this field would networking. There are many big companies who provide networking sales, services and security.
Hope the provided information would be informational.
thank you sir
Sai
Pujan Chadha
Pujan’s Answer
Computer hardware is the physical parts of computer, such as the monitor, keyboard, computer data storage, hard disk drive, graphic cards, sound cards, memory (RAM), motherboard, and so on, all of which are tangible physical objects
syed nouheer
syed’s Answer
Computer or System hardware is about the computer components servicing, sales includes. It would be a good idea to start the career to understand the components, however need to acquire different skills like networking to grow in career. There are many Computer designing companies where you can join as technical support or hardware support and lead your career or even setup your own business.
Computer components like Processor, Hard drive, RAM, Mother board, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse which you see in any computer. The other career option in this field would networking. There are many big companies who provide networking sales, services and security.
Arun Stanislaus
Arun’s Answer
Computer hardware is the collection of physical parts of a computer system. This includes the computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It also includes all the parts inside the computer case, such as the hard disk drive, motherboard, video card, and many others. Computer hardware is what you can physically touch
Mohamed Hidayathulla
Mohamed’s Answer
Abbreviated as HW, Hardware is best described as any physical component of a computer system that contains a circuit board, ICs, or other electronics. A perfect example of hardware is the screen on which you are viewing this page. Whether it be a computer monitor, tablet or smartphone; it's hardware.
External hardware examples:
Flat-panel, Monitor, and LCD
Keyboard
Microphone
Mouse
Printer
Projector
Scanner
Speakers
USB thumb drive
Internal hardware examples:
CPU
Drive (e.g. Blu-Ray, CD-ROM, DVD, floppy drive, and hard drive)
Fan (heat sink)
Modem
Motherboard
Network card
RAM
Sound card
Video card
Abhishek K N
Abhishek’s Answer
Computer hardware is the collection of physical parts of a computer system. This includes the computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It also includes all the parts inside the computer case, such as the hard disk drive, motherboard, video card, and many others. Computer hardware is what you can physically touch.
Definitions
A computer system consists of two major elements: hardware and software. Computer hardware is the collection of all the parts you can physically touch. Computer software, on the other hand, is not something you can touch. Software is a set of instructions for a computer to perform specific operations. You need both hardware and software for a computer system to work.
Some hardware components are easy to recognize, such as the computer case, keyboard, and monitor. However, there are many different types of hardware components. In this lesson, you will learn how to recognize the different components and what they do.
Types of Computers
Before looking at the various components, it is useful to distinguish between two different types of computers: desktop computers and laptop computers. A desktop computer consists of a computer case and a separate monitor, keyboard, and mouse. As the name suggests, this type of computer is typically placed on a desk and is not very portable.
Typical desktop computer with a separate computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse desktop computer
A laptop computer has the same components but integrated into a single, portable unit.
Typical laptop computer with integrated hardware components laptop computer
While these two types of computers look quite different, they have the same general hardware components.
Hardware Components
Let's start with the computer case. This is the metal enclosure that contains many of the other hardware components. It comes in various shapes and sizes, but a typical tower model is between 15-25 inches high. Want to know what's inside? Okay, go get a screwdriver and let's open it up. Seriously, if you are really into computers, the best way to learn is to actually get hands-on. To save us some time, however, have a look at this desktop computer case. A computer enthusiast replaced the metal side panel with a transparent one, so we can have a look inside.
Although that photo looks pretty cool, it is a bit hard to recognize the individual components, especially with all the connecting wires running through it. This figure shows a more schematic version of a desktop computer, which makes it easier to point out the essential hardware components.
The computer case contains a power supply unit (#6) to convert general-purpose electricity to direct current for the other components. The most critical component is the motherboard (#2), a plastic board on which several essential components are mounted. This includes the central processing unit, or CPU, (#3), the main memory (#4), and expansions slots (#5) for other hardware components. The internal hard disk drive (#8) serves as the mass storage device for data files and software applications. An optical disk drive (#7) makes it possible to read from and write to CDs and DVDs. Other hardware components typically found inside the computer case (but not shown in the figure) are a sound card, a video card, and a cooling mechanism, such as a fan.
Gerard James
Gerard’s Answer
Computer hardware is the collection of physical parts of a computer system. This includes the computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It also includes all the parts inside the computer case, such as the hard disk drive, motherboard, video card, and many others. Computer hardware is what you can physically touch.
Praveen Prabhakar
Praveen’s Answer
Central Processing Unit (CPU): Think of the CPU as the computer's brain. It's the mastermind that executes instructions and performs calculations, keeping everything in order.
Memory: This includes the Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read-Only Memory (ROM). RAM is like the computer's short-term memory, providing temporary storage for data and instructions that the CPU needs to access swiftly. On the other hand, ROM is like the computer's long-term memory, holding permanent instructions that remain unchanged.
Storage Devices: These are the computer's filing cabinets, providing long-term storage for data and programs. They come in various forms, including hard disk drives (HDD), solid-state drives (SSD), and optical drives (CD/DVD/Blu-ray).
Motherboard: The motherboard is the computer's central hub. It's the main circuit board that links and enables communication between different hardware components, such as the CPU, memory, storage devices, and expansion cards.
Power Supply Unit (PSU): The PSU is the computer's energy source, transforming AC (alternating current) power from an outlet into DC (direct current) power, which the system components need to function.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): The GPU is the artist of the computer, responsible for creating and displaying graphics. It's particularly crucial for activities like gaming, video editing, and other tasks that require high-quality graphics.
Input and Output Devices: These are the computer's communicators. They include keyboards, mice, monitors, printers, scanners, and other peripherals that allow users to interact with the computer system and receive information from it.
Expansion Cards: These cards are like the computer's upgrade packages, used to enhance its functionality. Examples include network interface cards (NIC), sound cards, and graphics cards.
Cooling Systems: To keep the computer from overheating, cooling systems like fans, heat sinks, and liquid cooling systems are used. They act like the computer's personal air conditioning system, dissipating heat produced by the system components.
Cables and Connectors: These are the computer's lifelines, used to establish connections between the hardware components, enabling data and power transmission.
These are just some of the vital hardware components that make up a computer system. The specific hardware setup can differ based on the intended use, be it personal computers, servers, or specialized systems for sectors like gaming or engineering. Each component plays a part in creating a powerful, efficient machine ready to tackle any task.
James Constantine Frangos
James Constantine’s Answer
System Hardware
System hardware refers to the physical components that make up a computer system. These components include the central processing unit (CPU), memory (RAM), storage devices (hard drives, solid-state drives), input devices (keyboard, mouse), output devices (monitor, printer), and other peripherals like graphics cards, sound cards, and network adapters.
Components of System Hardware:
Central Processing Unit (CPU): The CPU is often referred to as the brain of the computer. It executes instructions from programs and performs basic arithmetic, logic, control, and input/output operations specified by those instructions.
Memory (RAM): Random Access Memory (RAM) is a type of computer memory that is used to store data and machine code currently being used. It allows quick read and write access to a storage medium.
Storage Devices: Storage devices are used to store data permanently or temporarily. Hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs) are common examples of storage devices in a computer system.
Input Devices: Input devices allow users to input data into the computer system. Examples include keyboards, mice, scanners, and webcams.
Output Devices: Output devices display or present data processed by the computer system. Monitors, printers, speakers are examples of output devices.
Peripherals: Peripherals are additional hardware components that extend the functionality of a computer system. Graphics cards for enhanced video processing, sound cards for audio output, and network adapters for connecting to networks are examples of peripherals.
Role of a Hardware Engineer:
A hardware engineer specializes in designing, developing, testing, and maintaining various hardware components of computer systems. They work on creating efficient and reliable hardware solutions that meet the performance requirements of modern computing systems.
To become a successful hardware engineer, one needs to have a strong foundation in electrical engineering principles, digital electronics, computer architecture, and knowledge of various hardware components mentioned above.
In summary, system hardware encompasses all physical components that make up a computer system, including the CPU, memory, storage devices, input/output devices, and peripherals. A hardware engineer plays a crucial role in designing and maintaining these components to ensure optimal performance and functionality of computer systems.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
IEEE Xplore Digital Library: IEEE Xplore provides access to high-quality technical literature in engineering and technology.
Computer Organization and Design - David A. Patterson & John L. Hennessy: This authoritative textbook covers fundamental concepts related to computer organization and design.
Computer Hardware - Britannica: Britannica offers reliable information on various topics including computer hardware for educational purposes.
These sources were consulted to provide accurate information on system hardware components and the role of a hardware engineer in the field of computer science.
God Bless You,
JC.
Mukesh Kamat
Mukesh’s Answer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_hardware